Goals:
1-0: Colback (74, pounced on Sissoko’s lay-off to find the bottom corner of Begovic’s net)
1-1: Crouch (90, towered above Janmaat to nod in Cameron’s deep cross)
Bookings: Moses (15, foul); Ireland (22, foul); Whelan (33, foul); Ameobi (35, foul); Colback (53, foul)
Referee: Kevin Friend (Walsall) – seemed intent on even the cards tally up and had little need to dish out as many cautions as he did. 5
Attendance: 47, 763
Entertainment: PP
Newc Stoke
Shots on 3 3
Shots off 6 4
Corners 5 8
Offsides 2 3
Fouls 14 17
NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1):
6 Krul: Made a stunning save at the end of the half to keep out Diouf’s diving header;
6 Janmaat: Started positively and linked well with Cabella but then beaten in the air at the death by the towering Crouch
7 Coloccini: Made a number of fine headers and blocks to frustrate Stoke when they attacked
6 Williamson: Combined well with Coloccini to keep the red and white shirts at bay
6 Haïdara: Was a key mover in an attacking sense in the first half but faded;
5 Anita: The game just seemed to pass him by in the middle while others buzzed around him
6 Colback: Could have picked up a second yellow card moments before he struck the opener;
7 Cabella: Was the main creator for the Magpies even if he fluffed his lines a couple of times
6 Sissoko: Drove from deep regularly enough without testing the Stoke backline sufficiently and teed up the opener
6 Ameobi: Enjoyed a far better first half and unable to keep up that standard after the restart;
7 Perez: Showed some lovely touches and unlucky to see a first half effort bounce inches wide of the far post; wasted a late chance
Subs:
Cisse (for Anita 65): Tried to get involved. 5
Obertan (for Cabella 69): Integral to the opener before wasting a fantastic chance for a second. 6
Abeid (for Ameobi 86)
(not used): Gouffran, Riviere, Dummett, Woodman (gk).
STOKE CITY (4-3-3); BEGOVIC 7; Bardsley 6, Muniesa 6, Wollscheid 6, Wilson 5 (Cameron 51, 5); Whelan 7, Nzonzi 7, Ireland 6 (Crouch 82); Diouf 6, Walters 6, Moses 5. Subs: Palacios, Adam, Sidwell, Butland (gk), Wilkinson.
MAN OF THE MATCH: FABRICIO Coloccini – was crucial at the back throughout and the Magpies could have done with him marking Crouch late on.
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